“Let’s be the generation that
makes future generations
proud of what we did here.”
– President Barack Obama –

The challenges that President Obama and this
administration

inherited

were

immense—two

wars, an economy in freefall, record deficits,
and a health care system in crisis. AlThough
there is still more work to do, we have made an
incredible amount of progress over the past
two years. Together, we have begun to lay a new
foundation for growth, building an economy
that works for all Americans.

Promises Kept
the First Two Years in Office

“We meet at a moment of great uncertainty for America. The economic crisis we face is
the worst since the Great Depression. ... I know folks are worried. But I also know this—we
can steer ourselves out of this crisis.”

– B a r ack Ob ama
O ct o b er 20 0 8

REBUILDING OUR ECONOMY

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
2007

2008

Q4

Q1

2009

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

2010

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

RECOVERY ACT
The Recovery Act represented the largest infrastructure investment since
President Eisenhower, the largest education investment since President
Johnson, and the largest clean-energy bill ever. It has saved or created as
many as 3.7 million jobs across America while creating a foundation for
future growth.

An economy that had been shrinking for
nearly a year is now growing. After nearly two
years of job loss, our economy added more
than one million private sector jobs in 2010.

putting more money in the pockets of Americans who need it most.
President Obama also worked to prevent a middle-class tax increase,

“The stimulus alone represents a strikingly

while extending vital unemployment benefits for Americans who lost

progressive presidential legacy—rivaling the

their jobs through no fault of their own.

CREDIT CARD REFORM

biggest reforms of the Clinton presidency.
And it passed on Obama’s 24th day in office.”

These reforms put a stop to unfair credit card practices. Reform banned
retroactive rate hikes, implemented new protections for students and young
people, and required credit card companies to explain their terms in plain

– Tim D i c k i n s on
O ctob e r 2 010

language.

BUILDING A CLEAN-ENERGY ECONOMY
New emissions and fuel efficiency standards for American cars and historic
investments in clean-energy technologies are helping pave the way to a

“The bailout of the auto industry protected
against absolute devastation in the economies

more sustainable future, creating new jobs and entire industries here in

of the Midwest. ... And it is now turning out to

America.

be a huge financial boon for taxpayers.”

REBUILDING THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY
The Obama administration acted decisively to invest in America’s auto
industry, preventing hundreds of thousands of job losses across the country
and revitalizing the backbone of America’s manufacturing sector.

– No rm O rn ste i n
O ctob e r 2 010

“Let’s be the generation that finally tackles our health
care crisis. Let’s be the generation that says right here,
right now, that we will have universal health care in
America by the end of the next president’s first term.”
– B a r a ck O b a ma
S e p t emb e r 2 0 0 8

coverage to another 4 million low-income children, increasing the total number of

O ctob e r 2 010

children covered by the program to more than 11 million.

“I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban in
Afghanistan. …I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism
and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate change and disease. And I will restore
our moral standing, so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to
the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.”
– B a r ack Ob ama
Au gust 28 t h, 20 0 8

NATIONAL SECURITY
ENDING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ
We have ended our combat mission in Iraq and removed nearly 100,000 troops so
that we can focus on fighting al Qaeda and rebuilding our nation at home.

TOWARD A WORLD WITHOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS

“In foreign policy, [President Obama] has set

The President reached the most important arms control agreement with Russia in

the stage for engagement and multilateralism.

two decades. New START will reduce our nuclear arsenals, put inspectors on the

He has reset relations with Russia, made

ground in Russia, and renew America’s leadership in pursuit of a world without
nuclear weapons. President Obama also rallied the world behind a plan to secure all
nuclear material from terrorists within four years, fulfilling a key campaign promise.

A NEW STRATEGY FOR AFGHANISTAN AND
PAKISTAN
The United States and our allies have gone on the offense in Afghanistan, in
Pakistan, and around the world to ensure that al Qaeda and other terrorists do not
have any safe place from which to plan future attacks on America.

overtures to the Muslim world in his Cairo
speech, and provided a philosophic discussion
of war, peace, and human rights in his Nobel
speech.”
– Dor is Kea rn s G oodwi n
Jan uary 2 010

“Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class
education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. ... I will not
settle for an America where some kids don’t have that chance.”
– B a r ack Ob ama
Au g ust 20 0 8

EDUCATION
REFORMING STUDENT LENDING

“During his first two years in office,

President Obama signed into law student loan reform that makes college more

President Barack Obama and his

affordable for students and families and will save American taxpayers roughly $68

Democratic allies in Congress

billion over the next 10 years.

compiled a substantial record of policy

Spurring innovation

accomplishment—[including] major

Programs like “Race to the Top” and “Educate to Innovate” are giving American

changes in student loan programs,

schools and states the tools and resources they need to be successful.

among many others.”

A NEW GI BILL
– Will i am G al ston

The implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill increased educational opportunities for

N ove m b e r 2 010

veterans by making college more affordable for returning service members.

As we approach the halfway point of President Obama’s first term,
the list of accomplishments already dwarfs that of many of his predecessors. The actions taken by this administration and by Democrats
in Congress have eased the burden on middle-class families, making it easier for working parents to meet their families’ daily needs while
opening doors of opportunity for their children. Together, these accomplishments form a foundation for a new generation of prosperity,
a new era of possibility, and a new century of American greatness.

“This president has delivered more sweeping,
progressive change in 20 months than the previous two
Democratic administrations did in 12 years.”
– Tim D i c k i n s on
O ctob e r 2 010

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